On this day in movie and book history - Brewster’s Millions (1985)

Brewster’s Millions

directed by Walter Hill, 

written by Timothy Harris and Herschel Weingrod, 

based on the novel by George Barr McCutcheon, 

was released in the United States on May 22, 1985.

Cast:

Richard Pryor, John Candy, Lonette McKee, Stephen Collins, Jerry Orbach, Pat Hingle, Tovah Feldshuh, Hume Cronyn, Joe Grifasi, Peter Jason, David White, Jerome Dempsey, David Wohl, Ji-Tu Cumbuka, Milt Kogan, Carmine Caridi, Yakov Smirnoff, Rick Moranis, Gloria Charles, Yana Nirvana, Grand L. Bush, Conrad Janis, Rosetta LeNoire, Joseph Leon, Robert Ellenstein, Reni Santoni, Alan Autry, Joseph G. Medalis, Malachy McCourt, Roger Til, Allan Miller, Mike Hagerty, Kelly Yaegermann, Regina Hooks, Allan Graf, Archie Hahn, Jeffrey Mylett, Richard Hochberg, R.D. Call, Frank Slaten, Lin Shaye, Wesley Thompson, Strawn Bovee, Matt Landers, Kip Waldo, Shaka Cumbuka, Brad Sanders, Bill McConnell, Margot Rose, Joel Weiss, Candee Jennings, Bennie E. Dobbins, Gary Alexander, Joey Banks, Steven Benson, Mike Paciorek, Ken Medlock, Robbie T. Robinson, Ken Knighten, Hank Robinson, Art Reichle, Marina Anderson, Jack Couch, Ken DuMain, Ronald E. Giles, Bob Harks, Freeman Love, Naylon Mitchell, Danny Nero, Arnie Scheer.

Recommended reading:

Brewster’s Millions

by George Barr McCutcheon.

Filmed as Brewster’s Millions (1985), directed by Walter Hill.

Published by Loki's Publishing.
First published 1902.
Paperback.

ISBN-10: 1636004865
ISBN-13: 978-1636004860
 
Description:

With the passing of his beloved grandfather, Monty Brewster inherits a long-anticipated million dollars. But he suddenly discovers that he can inherit seven times as much from his eccentric uncle if he spends every cent of his grandfather's money within a year. The carefree prospect of running through a fortune in order to receive an even greater windfall turns into a comic burden because of his uncle's Monty must spend responsibly, showing good business sense, limiting his charitable contributions, and maintaining utter secrecy about the second inheritance.

Can Monty run through the million according to his uncle's terms? His friends are aghast at his madcap extravagance – the gambling, the risky investments, the lavish parties – and Monty's romance with a banker's daughter is imperiled by his seemingly reckless spending. This sprightly comedy, originally published in 1902, offers an atmospheric picture of New York City at the turn of the twentieth century and its intriguing premise has served as the source of ten movie adaptations.

On this day in movie history - The Long Riders (1980)

The Long Riders

directed by Walter Hill,

written by Bill Bryden, Steven Phillip Smith, Stacy Keach, James Keach, Walter Hill,

released at the Cannes Film Festival in France on May 15, 1980.

Music by Ry Cooder.

Cast:

David Carradine, Keith Carradine, Robert Carradine, James Keach, Stacy Keach, Dennis Quaid, Randy Quaid, Kevin Brophy, Harry Carey Jr., Christopher Guest, Nicholas Guest, Shelby Leverington, Felice Orlandi, Pamela Reed, James Remar, Fran Ryan, Savannah Smith Boucher, Amy Stryker, James Whitmore Jr., John Bottoms, West Buchanan, Edward Bunker, Martina Deignan, Allan Graf, Chris Mulkey, Thomas Myers, Marlise Karlin / Pieratt, Glenn Robards, Tim Rossovich, Lin Shaye, Gary Watkins, Peter Jason, Duke Stroud, Steve Chambers, William Traylor, J. Don Ferguson, Hugh McGraw, Prentiss Rowe, Stuart Mossman, Michael Lackey, Mitch Greenhill, Bill Bryson, Tom Sauber, Jimmy Medearis, Edgar McLeod, Luis Contreras, Kalen Keach, R.B. Thrift, Ry Cooder, George D. Miklos, Bill Rampley, Bill Willens.

On this day in movie history - Extreme Prejudice (1987)

Extreme Prejudice

directed by Walter Hill,

written by Deric Washburn and Harry Kleiner,

based on a story by John Milius and Fred Rexer,

was released in the United States on April 24, 1987.

Music by Jerry Goldsmith.

Cast:

Nick Nolte, Powers Boothe, Michael Ironside, Maria Conchita Alonso, Rip Torn, Clancy Brown, William Forsythe, Matt Mulhern, Larry B. Scott, Dan Tullis Jr., John Dennis Johnston, Luis Contreras, Gary Carlos Cervantes, Tom Lister Jr., Marco Rodríguez, James Lashly, Tony Frank, Mickey Jones, Kent Lipham, Sam Gauny, Gil Reyes, Rick Garcia, Richard L. Duran, Larry Duran, Christina Garcia, Charles Lewis, Humberto De La Torre, Fred Eisenlohr, Anthony Galvan III, Erin Bowden, Frank Lugo, Jimmy Ortega, Lin Shaye, Anthony Lattanzio, Ken Medlock, Michelle Rosen, Allan Graf, Helen Kelly, Thomas Rosales Jr., Karly Rothenberg, Cole Volgenau.

On this day in movie history - Crossroads (1986)

Crossroads

directed by Walter Hill,

written by John Fusco,

released in the United States on March 14, 1986.

Music by Ry Cooder.

Cast: Ralph Macchio, Joe Seneca, Jami Gertz, Joe Morton, Robert Judd, Steve Vai, Dennis Lipscomb, Harry Carey Jr., John Hancock, Allan Arbus, Gretchen Palmer, Al Fann, Wally Taylor, Tim Russ, Tom Donaldson / Tex Donaldson, Guy Killum, Akosua Busia, Edward Walsh, Allan Graf, Royce Wallace, J.W. Smith, Diana Bellamy, Johnny M. Reyes, Karen Huie, Robin Townsend, Jeanne Kiely, Winifred Freedman, Dolores Aguanno, Debra Laws, Diane Robin, Leslie Morris, Gloria Delaney, Jo Marie Payton / JoMarie Payton-France, Angela Robinson Witherspoon, Deborra Hampton, Le Van Hawkins, Jason Ross, Natasha Peacock, Agnes Narciso, Frank Frost, John Price, Otis Taylor, Richard 'Shubby' Holmes, Terry L. Evans, Bobby A. King, Sam King, Arnold McCuller, Willie J. Greene Jr., Marina Anderson, John Otrin, Ray Pourchot, Skip Rose, Arthur Tovey, Tom Willett, Cal Wilson.

On this day in movie and book history - The Getaway (1994)

 

The Getaway

directed by Roger Donaldson,

written by Walter Hill and Amy Holden Jones,

based on the novel by Jim Thompson,

was released in the United States on February 11, 1994.

Music by Mark Isham.

Cast:

Alec Baldwin, Kim Basinger, Michael Madsen, James Woods, David Morse, Jennifer Tilly, James Stephens, Richard Farnsworth, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Burton Gilliam, Royce D. Applegate, Daniel Villarreal, Scott McKenna, Alex Colon, Justin Williams, Peppi Sanders, Jo Ann Soto, Louis Martinez, Boots Southerland, George Dobbs, Kenny Endoso, Don Pulford, Rick Taylor, Phil Allen, Bill Mosley, Debbie Dedo, Gary Kirk, J.W. ‘Corkey’ Fornof, Peter Donaldson, Michele Hawk, Sammy Hernandez, Parker Anderson, William Bolander, Bill Cook, Kacee DeMasi, Maria Frisby, Lee Hollingsworth, Bob Huff, Elaine Huff, April Manchester-Miller, Elske McCain, Richard Meek, Brian Patterson, Ella Arlienne Scofield, Robert Sucato, Tracy Sucato, Oliver Theess, Rodd Wolff.

Recommended reading: The Getaway

The Getaway

by Jim Thompson.
 
First published 1958.
Published by Mulholland Books.
Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0316403970
ISBN-13: 978-0316403979
 
Description:

Doc McCoy is the most skilled criminal alive. But when for the first time in Doc's long criminal career, his shot doesn't hit the mark, everything begins to fall apart. And Doc begins to realize that the perfect bank robbery isn't complete without the perfect getaway to back it up.

THE GETAWAY is the classic story of a bank robbery gone horribly wrong, where the smallest mistakes have catastrophic consequences, and shifting loyalties lead to betrayals and chaos. The basis for the classic Steve McQueen film of the same name, as well as a 1994 remake with Alec Baldwin, Thompson's novel set the bar for every heist story that followed - but as Thompson's proved time and again, nobody's ever done it better than the master.

On this day in movie and book history - The Warriors (1979)

The Warriors

directed by Walter Hill,

written by David Shaber and Walter Hill,

based on the novel by Sol Yurick,

was released in the United States on February 9, 1979.

Music by Barry De Vorzon.

Cast:

Michael Beck, James Remar, Deborah Van Valkenburgh, Marcelino Sánchez, David Harris, Tom McKitterick, Brian Tyler, Dorsey Wright, Terry Michos, David Patrick Kelly, Roger Hill, Edward Sewer, Lynne Thigpen, Thomas G. Waites, Paul Greco, Jery Hewitt, Kate Klugman, Konrad Sheehan, Craig R. Baxley, A.J. Bakunas, Steve James, Bill Anagnos, Dennis Gregory, Mercedes Ruehl, Irwin Keyes, Sonny Landham, Ginny Ortiz, John Snyder.

Recommended reading:

The Warriors

By Sol Yurick.

Published by Grove Press.

First published 1965.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 0802139922

ISBN-13: 978-0802139924

Description:

Every gang in the city meets on a sweltering July 4 night in a Bronx park for a peace rally. The crowd of miscreants turns violent after a prominent gang leader is killed, and chaos prevails over attempts at order.

The Warriors follows the Dominators as they make their nocturnal journey to their home territory without being killed. The police are prowling the city in search of anyone involved in the mayhem. An exhilarating novel that examines New York City teenagers left behind by society, who form identity and personal strength through their affiliation with their "family," The Warriors weaves together social commentary with ancient legends for a classic coming-of-age tale.